WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2025-26 season with a 73-38 victory over Lycoming (0-1) in Sunday afternoon's non-conference contest. The Diplomats took an early lead and never gave it back, shooting 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the field in the victory.

Lycoming started the game working a nine-point advantage halfway through the first quarter, but the Diplomats took over from there. Gia Sioutis made a jumper, followed by a three-point play from Lizzie Neville to cut the Warriors' lead to 13-9. Kayla McCrea matched by converting an and-one of her own to get F&M within one. Mackenzie Ward and Neville both made layups to close the period with the Diplomats in the lead, 16-13.

Franklin & Marshall continued its hot stretch into the second quarter with a layup from McCrea and free throws from Sioutis and Ward to push the lead to seven. Lauren Rusas made layups on back-to-back possessions to give the visitors a 24-13 lead halfway through the second frame. Steph Sexton splashed a three-pointer at the 3:48 mark to cushion the lead at 14 and cap the run at 23-unanswered points for F&M.

The Warriors cut F&M's lead down to nine at the start of the third quarter, but two free throws from Sioutis and a layup from Neville gave the Diplomats a 36-23 lead. F&M led 38-25 at the six-minute mark of the third quarter when the Diplomats ended the frame on a 13-0 run. Neville knocked down a three-pointer, while Sioutis sank a jumper to push the lead to 20. Neville, Gianna Modica, and Fiona Reckner all made layups, while Sexton drilled a mid-range jumper to give F&M a 51-25 advantage entering the final quarter.

The Diplomats continued finding success at the basket, extending their lead to as big as 35 points to end the fourth quarter as F&M earned a win in its season-opener for the second time in three years.

F&M not only shot 40.3 percent from the field, but the Diplomats also held the Warriors to a shooting percentage of 26.3 percent. Neville led the game with 21 points, while also recording seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Sioutis ended the contest with 11 points and 11 rebounds to earn the first double-double of her career. Modica registered four assists, followed by McCrea tallying three in the win. Modica also added four steals on defense in the game.

Franklin & Marshall hosts its home opener on Thursday, welcoming Lebanon Valley at 7:30 p.m.